For All Seasons Expands Its Latino Programs

For All Seasons provides education and outreach programs for Latinos across the Mid-shore with a focus on high-need areas, according to a published article in Bay Times and Record Observer.

The Latino support group Our Voices and For All Seasons work together to serve and strengthen Latino families by building a healthy family community and reduce disparities.

Ivy Garcia, director of Latino outreach and education, said: "The Latino community has grown here. Although they feel that this is a safe community, there are not many places where they can talk about their needs and concerns. The support groups enable For All Seasons to be a bridge to mental health services for the Latino community."

The support groups promote a variety of mechanisms that enable their participants to work together and be better informed through networking, collaboration, and information exchange. The educational components of the support group are based on output or product and activities that emphasize healthy relationships, self-esteem, self-awareness, life-skills, and self-care.

Groups are giving outreach and offering their programs weekly for men, women, and adolescent girls. They help Latinos to better understand and address issues and challenges that assimilates dual-cultural life and reinforce the sense of pride and connection in the Latino culture.

The Girls Latina Support Group has been meeting since Sept.1 after their class from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. every Monday. Girls who participated in the meeting ranged from ages 13 to 17 and talked about topics about healthy relationships, self-esteem, drug prevention, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Moreover, the group teaches also the participants jewelry making and stone painting.

According to Garcia who facilitates the group, "Girls learn about the power within and how they can lead the direction of their lives, in addition to valuable skills that assist them in exploring the impact of the values, norms, and beliefs that shape them, especially those that present barriers. The girls want to learn and want to involve their parents in learning to adapt culturally. This has helped to grow our support groups for men and women, which follow the Girls Latina Support Groups on Monday and Wednesday evenings."

Meanwhile, the Men's Latino Support Group which is participated by men age 18 years old and above meets every Monday from 5:30 p.m to 7:00 p.m. at the For All Seasons office located at 300 Talbot St. , Easton. The support group for men is led by the group's lead interpreter Alberto Ardaya.

Moreover, there are two meetings conducted for women. The first meeting is led by Garcia which is participated by women ages 18 years old and above from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Monday at the Talbot St. in Easton. While the other one is held at the same time every Wednesday at Sudlersville Elementary School. The Support group programs and activities are all free.

The groups are encouraging Latinos and Latinas to participate in the given schedule. Meanwhile, For All Seasons also have outreach and educational programs in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. Moreover, the For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victims, support groups and counseling, and more.